Alabama River-Roland Cooper State Park to Gee’s Bend

The women of Gees Bend were discovered by the outside world in the 1970s, making quilts with an almost impossible parallel to the American expressionist painting movement from which they lived physically and culturally worlds apart. To get close to the area with a kayak or canoe, consider staying at Roland Cooper State Park or the US Army Corps of Engineers parks at Millers Ferry or Chilatchee Creek for a full-service experience.

If a taste of wild is more to your liking, try US Army Corps of Engineers Elm Bluff Park. The closest place to use as base camp is right by the north ferry terminal at Gees Bend Park. It is a short walk from here to the ferry terminal (the nearby Gees Bend Ferry will transport your paddle boat, or your car, or just you). You will want to visit the terminals at some point because of the visitor center displays.

The quilters work in the North Terminal on many days. The ferry runs eight times a day the year around. Plan your trip: From the nearby town of Camden, take Highway 41 North from downtown and turn left on Highway 10 West. At the 4-way stop, take a right onto State Highway 28 West. Then take a right onto Ellis Landing Road at the Gees Bend Ferry sign in sight of the big silos. Courtesy, Alabama Scenic River Trail

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Activities:

Birding

Equestrian

Fishing

Hiking

Mountain Biking

OHV

Paddling

Road Biking

Trail Running

Walking

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This project is made possible through a partnership between The Alabama Trails Commission, The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development.